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Three questions to Laza, curator section new territory Madagascar-FIFF 2014

What does it make you to come and present Malagasy films in Fribourg?

A lot of emotions. We are in the process of writing the history of Malagasy cinema in fact. This is unprecedented in the history of Malagasy cinema. Among the films that we will show, half are world premiere and this is the first time we will see them on the big screen. It's very moving.

How would you define Malagasy cinema?

I think it is an emergency cinema as it stands. The movie theatres have closed for more than 20 years in the country. So a 20-25-year-old has never seen a movie in his living room. We have so much desire to tell stories with nothing, because there is no industry, there is no money to make films, that every film that results is a useful film.

What do you want the festival goers to retain from the Malagasy cinema?

That for once, it is the Malagasy who tell their own stories. For a long time, foreigners have been telling our stories. We finally have the opportunity to offer an original view of what is happening in our home. To live things from the inside out. I see a lot of hope. At the political level there are many problems, but there is always and still hope. That's what I want to celebrate.

Raymond RAJAONARIVELO godfather for life short Film encounters, Raymond Radu is certainly one of the directors who has made the most notice as a Malagasy author and who has most allowed to highlight the culture and identity of the island.

The festival, which has a growing international echo, has become the ambassador of Malagasy cinema. Motivated by the belief that a quality cinema can exist in Madagascar, RFCs pursue a twofold fundamental objective: to discover the creative extent of the short film and to support Malagasy production by offering it a platform of International recognition. Co-organized by the Association of Film encounters Court, the French Institute of Madagascar and Rozifilms, for 7 years already, we are a “baby festival” but endowed with an unchallenged motivation! Our visual this year is the reflection: the RFC logo is anchored in the ground. But the most important thing is that the “RFC generation” grows, it progresses, it asserts itself. This new generation of Malagasy filmmakers has found a springboard and showcase for their talents at RFC. If this event has taken on the scale that it currently has they are the ones to be congratulated! The intuition that guided the creation of this festival proved to be fair: talent is there, we had no doubt, but above all we are able to realize this potential and tell our own stories!

RFC 6 â April 8 to 16, 2011: For a revival of Malagasy cinema
This festival wants to continue its progression and, with this 6th edition, confirm its status as a major event in the Malagasy cultural agenda. In that, it is helped by more and more partners: festivals, companies, embassies, media… and of course, all the filmmakers and film-lovers who are involved to accompany the revival of Malagasy cinema. More than ever, we believe that the Malagasy people must make their own creation. The Malagasy filmmakers have the responsibility to tell their stories. RFCs offer them this platform of expression. Even in a situation of instability, Malagasy cinema must go forward because the RFCs are gaining more and more recognition internationally, thanks to the support of the media such as TV5 Monde, RFI, Africultures and several partner festivals.

The Short Film Festival of Madagascar is above all a place of exchange and discovery dedicated to short films, to the creativity and the emergence of the new generation of Malagasy filmmakers. It is an event that, every year, offers new suggestions and highlights the news talents. In 2009, despite the crisis that severely affected the country, the French Institute of Madagascar, the association Iris and the production company Rozifilms are once again taking up the challenge by making the RFCs an unavoidable and structuring event for the Malagasy film landscape .

Statistics of the festival

-2 500 festival-goers
-161 films projected from around the world, 16 projection sessions including 2 Hors-les-murs sessions at the University of Antananarivo and CGM Analakely.
-6 sessions at 6 Alliances FranÃ§aises in the province
-1 Round Table, 1 conference-debate, 1 exhibition, 1 meeting session with a Director
-6 International guests
-26 films received in the competition, 6 selected and 4 award-winning films

The winners 2009

The RFCs inaugurate the first trophies made by a Malagasy artist: Temandrota. These are true works of art, unique and original. The name of Zebu d’Or is also born during the 4th, RFC.

The third edition of the Short Film Festival took place in Antananarivo from the 22nd to 26th, April 2008 on the initiative of the French Institute of Madagascar and the Iris Association. The screening sessions allowed a thousand festival-goers to discover films from all around the world. For the first time, these meetings hostedÂ international professionals who fuelled debates and exchanges. The festival also inaugurated its first Kino Kabaret. The challenge was to make as many short films as possible in 72 hours and then project them at the end of the 3rd day to the public. A real success with 36 participants for 21 films made!

Statistics of the festival

-4 500 festival-goers
-155 films projected from around the world, 21 projection sessions including 1 open-air session and 1 Hors-les-murs at the University of Antananarivo
-11 awareness sessions at schools located on the capital since the festival took the responsability on image education
-1 Round Table, 1 conference-debate, 1 video-slam-concert exposition photo-video
-1 Kino Kabaret: 36 parcticipants, 21 films made
-34 films received in the competition, 12 selected and 5 films awarded by an international jury

RFC 2 â May 21 to 25, 2007: The festival is expanding

In 2007, the festival lasted three days or 5 consecutive days of celebration. It was co-organised this time by the French Institute of Madagascar and the Young IRIS Association created after the first edition. This edition confirmed the dynamics and renewal of the Malagasy film production revealed in 2006 during the first meetings. The opening up of the event to the outside world was particularly strong and visible. This second edition had also enriched the festival’s program. Plus, new young filmmakers had been discovered through the Malagasy short film competition. At the end of the festival, five films were awarded.

Statistics of the festival:

-1 586 festival-goers

-105 films projected from around the world, 15 projection sessions including 2 retrospective ones from major short film festivals, 2 school sessions
-3 focus on three important names in African cinema
-2 round tables, 1 photo-video exhibition, 1 session homage to the great names of Malagasy cinema
-27 Films received in which 14 films in official competition and 5 award-winning films

The winners 2007

1st prize: KOZY VAIN/X VISION of Rado ANDRIAMANISA/Fiction/8 ‘ 42

2nd Prize: Children of the streets of Tovoniaina RASOANAIVO/Documentary/12 ‘

3rd Prize: TAFASIRY/Once Upon a time children… by Amenoor RANDRIAMAHAZOSOA/Fiction/10 ‘ 17

SYNOPSIS: An ordinary father used to live a normal life until the day he underwent a sudden and unexpected change of behaviour. From an exemplary father to a murderer one, he became a subject of discussion for his Co-villagers, including one of his colleague and a neighbour. The latter found that what he did is quite reasonable. He repeated what the father dared: kill his family and die for lynching.

SYNOPSIS: This is the first time he has left his small native village in Madagascar. With his mother and two little brothers, they cross the country on a bush-taxi. Their mom promised them a long and beautiful trip and Nirin is excited about the idea of discovering the country. But this great journey does not happen as he imagined.